Indian Health Ministry bans more than 300 fixed dose medicines
Including cough syrup compositions citing risk to patients
India's Health Ministry has banned 344 fixed dose combination drugs, including cough syrup compositions, saying they offer 'risk' to humans and that safer alternatives are available.
The ban on the drugs came into immediate effect on 14 March.
'Altogether 344 such fixed dose combinations (FDCs) have been banned. We have tried to bring objectivity to the issue by roping in the best of scientists to study the effects. Show cause notices were also issued to more than 344 companies and they were given time to make further representations after the expert committee gave their recommendations,' said a senior Health Ministry official.
The matter has also been examined by an expert committee appointed by the central government.
The 344 banned drugs include the fixed dose combination of chlopheniramine maleate and codeine syrup sold under the popular cough syrup brand Corex.
The matter has since moved to the courts.